The City Palace : In the heart of the old city is the former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles.

The carved arches are supported by grey-white marble columns ornate with floral motifs in gold and coloured stones. Two carved elephants in marble guard the entrance. The retainers whose families have served generations of rulers serve as guides.

The palace houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and armoury of Mughals and Rajputs including swords of different shapes and sizes with chased handles, some of them inlaid with enamel and embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent scabbards.

The palace also has an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit, acquired by Sawai Jai Singh II to study astronomy in detail.

Jantar Mantar : A stone observatory. Largest of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments, whose settings and shapes are scientifically designed, represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy.

The most striking of these are the Ram Yantras used for guaging altitudes.

Hawa Mahal : Built in 1799 A.D., the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds is a major Rajput landmark. This five storey building along the main street of the old city is in pink splendour with semioctagonal and delicately honey combed sandstone windows.

The monument was originally conceived with the aim of enabling ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and royal processions of the city.

Govind Dcvji Temple : The most popular spireless temple of Jaipur dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is located in the central pavilion of the Jai Niwas Garden to the north of Chandra Mahal. The image of the patron deity - Govind Devji, originally installed in a temple of Vrindavan, was reinstalled here by Sawai Jai Singh II as his family deity.

Swargasuli (Isar Lat) : The highest tower dominating the skyline on the western side of the Tripolia Bazaar. It was built Sawai Ishwari Singh in 1749 A.D. to commemorate a grand victory.

Ram Niwas Bagh : A lush spacious garden with a zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse, a herbarium, a museum and popular sports ground.

It was built by Sawai Ram Singh II in 1868 A.D. as a famine relief project. The Albert Hall - fine example of Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, was opened later with an exauisite collection of sculotures, paintings, decorative wares, natural history specimen, an Egyptian mummy and the celebrated Persian carpet.

Recently, the Rabindra Manch with an auditorium, a modern art gallery and an open air theatre, has been added to promote cultural events. Dolls Museum (Time : 1200 hrs to 1900 hrs) : Pretty dolls from various countries are on display in the compound of the school for deaf and dumb children, near the Police Memorial.

BM Biria Planetarium (Time 1200 hrs to 1900 hrs) : The Planetarium offers unique audio-visual education and entertainment with its modern computerised projection system. For school groups concessions are available. Closed on last Wednesday of every month. Galtaji :An ancient pilgrimage centre, lying beyond the gardens amidst low hills. Temples, pavilions and holy kunds (natural spring and reservoirs) along with lush landscape make it a delightful spot. The small temple of the Sun god, built by Diwan Kriparam on the top of the highest peak is visible from all parts of the city.

Jain Temple : The exquisite Jain temple on the Agra road has some of the most beautiful 19th century paintings in Jaipur style on its wails.

Moti Doongri and Lakshmi Narayan Temple : Moti Doongri is a privately owned hilltop fort built like a Scottish castle. The Ganesh Temple at the foot of the hill and the marvellous Lakshmi Narayan Temple built in marble a few years back, are also noteworthy.

Statue Circle : The full-length exquisitely carved statue of Sawai Jai Singh in white marble in the centre of the circle was erected under the newly planned scheme area to pay homage to the founder of Jaipur.

OTHERS : Beautiful memorials to the queens, Maharani-ki-Chhatri are near the Ramgarh road crossing on the Amber Road. The Island Palace, Jal Mahal built by Sawai Jai Singh I, is a fascinating spot at the centre of the Man Sagar Lake.

The Kanak Vrindavan Complex of fine temples and gardens has been recently renovated to their pristine perfection. To the west of this road is the royal crematorium at Gaitore in a narrow valley with some spectacular cenotaphs of all the Jaipur rulers except Sawai Ishwari Singh who was cremated outside the Jai Niwas Garden. Most imposing is the 'chhatri' of Sawai Jai Singh II with intricate carvings and a graceful shape.

Ghat ki Guni : Beautifully landscaped gardens, laid out in the 18th and 19th century by kings and courtiers dot the narrow gorge in the south eastern corner of the walled city, along the road to Agra.

Sisodia Rani garden has tiered multilevel gardens with fountains, water channel and painted pavilions and suites of living rooms. Amongst others, Vidyadhar-ka-Bagh is the best preserved one, with shady trees, flowing water, an open pavilion. It was built by the planner of the city, Vidyadhar.

Amer : Former capital of the Kachhwaha rulers of the old state of Dhundhar for seven centuries. Very little of the early structures survive now.

Amer Palace and Shila Mata Temple : A beautiful complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh over a period of about two centuries still stand in magnificent state.

The palace complex emerges dramatically from the placid waters of the Maotha Lake and is approachable only through a steep path. Tourists often ride on the elephant back to the Singh Pol and the Jaleb Chowk. Two flights of stairs rise from one end of the chowk, one leading to the Shila Mata Temple and other to the palace complex.

The image of the patron goddess, worshipped by thousands of devotees, was brought from Jessore in East Bengal (now in Bangladesh) by Raja Man Singh, to be installed here.

A spectacular pillared hall - Diwan-e-Aam and a double storeyed painted gateway, Ganesh Pole dominate the front courtyard. An elegant tiny garden in Charbag style beyond the corridors, has Sukh Niwas to its right and Jas Mandir to its left. The latter combines the Mughal and Rajput architecture, seen in its beautiful interior with intricately carved Jali screens, delicate mirror and stucco work and painted and carved dadoes. The well proportioned Mohan Ban or Kesar Kyari in the centre of the Maotha Lake and the Dilaram Bagh at its north end provides a spectacular view of the palaces above.

Old City : Once a settlement of nobles, craftsmen and common folks, the city of Amer is now in ruins.

The remnants of its rich past are the beautifully carved and planned Jagat Shiromani Temple, a Krishna temple associated with Meerabai, an ancient temple of Narsinghji and a magnificent step-well, Panna Mian-ka-kund.

Jaigarh : One of the few military structures of medieval India, retaining its ancient splendour in palaces, gardens, reservoirs, a granary, an armoury, a well planned cannon foundry, several temples, a tall tower and a giant mounted cannon - the Jai Ban, one of the largest in the country are preserved here.

The (extensive parkotas (walls), watch tower and gateways of Jaigarh dominate the western skyline.

Nahargarh : A sentinel to the Pink City is Nahargarh Fort. situated beyond the hills of Jaigarh.

Although much of it is in ruins, the lovely building added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II provides interest to the fort.